Electronic musical instrument



July 27, 1965 R. H. PETERSON 3,197,541

ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 26, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RIC HA2 D H. PETERSON United States Patent 3,197,541 ELECTRUNEC MUSHCAL liNdTRUMENT Richard H. Peterson, 10108 Haruew Road E, Oalrllawn, Ell. Filed lune 26, 1961, Ser. No. 122,374 19 Claims. (Cl. fi l-1.14)

My invention relates to electronic musical instruments and includes among its objects and advantages the facilitation of maintenance and repair of such equipment, both with respect to replacement or" defective parts, and with respect to convenient isolation of different portions of the equipment in order to identify the source or" any malfunctioning or failure to function. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a partly diagrammatic view of the interior of an electronic organ of the spinet type, with portions of the frame in section;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective of certain portions of a typical chassis;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the fixed intermediate junction panels;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of three of the interchangeable multiple terminal connectors; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary end view of two of the multiple terminals of FIGURE 4.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, the conventional body includes a bottom it), a detachable rear wall 12, a detachable front wall 14 and a roof l6 defining an enclosure in which a substantial, and usually a major portion of the complete electronic equipment associated with the organ is housed. The floor 16 projects forward beyond the plane of the wall 14 and its front edge is supported at both ends by conventional legs 18. The front wall is cut away near the bottom 2%} to clear the pedals 22 of a conventional pedal clavier adapted to operate key switch equipment at 24 inside the housing.

The tone generator equipment occupies the space indicated in dotted lines at as, 27 in FIGURE 1, and is conventionally sub-divided into a plurality of separate chasses of which one is indicated at 28 in FIGURE 2. The details of such a chassis and its wiring, per se, form no part of the present invention and are more fully disclosed in my Patent No. 3,026,756 issued Mar. 27, 1962 and accordingly this application is not encumbered with such details. Briefly, each chassis comprises a panel 36 notched at 32 to receive fastening means for mounting it in place and as many tuned oscillator circuits as there are octaves in the organ. The organ illustrated only spans six octaves and the panel 39 carries six inductor coils 34, 36, 38, 4t), 42 and 44. Of these, inductor 34 is part of a tuned circuit for producing the lowest tone and each of the succeeding coils is adapted to generate a tone one octave higher than that preceding it in the series of reference characters. It is noted that no coil is adjacent another coil removed in pitch from it by less than two octaves, but that arrangement, per se, is not involved in the present invention. It is customary but not essential, to assemble most or all of the capacitors, resistors and diodes necessary to complete each of the six complete oscillators, on the same supporting base 39 with the coils illustrated. From the six oscillator units, individual conductors for receiving activating potential and delivering signal are led away and united into a mutiple cable at 58 terminating in a multiple plug 48.

A complete organ includes a minimum of twelve such chasses, each generating the same note of the musical scale in each of the predetermined plurality of different octaves. The separable multiple connection at 43 makes it possible to detach any selected one or more of the chasses of the complete generator without removing it, to assist repair personnel in locating short circuits or any other electrical defect in any of the components, whenever that defect is not otherwise easily located.

In FIGURE 1, I have indicated two superposed rows of chasses according to FIGURE 2, one mounted above the other. in a small organ the upper row 26 will include six chasses and the lower one six more to complete an entire repertoire of pitches. in a larger organ each of these spaces may be large enough to house twevlve or more such chasses, in which case there will be a plurality of oscillators for each pitch to be produced by the organ, with a corresponding increase in the varieties of tone that can easily be produced at one and the same time without mutual interference or other complications.

in FIGURE 1 I have also indicated a conventional accompaniment clavier 5t) and a conventional solo clavier 52. It is usually desirable in a completely equipped organ, to have additional electronic components for varying tone quality or attack or decay, in addition to those that can conveniently be mounted on each chassis. I have indicated units 54-, 56, 57 which may include modifying means for the signal for each of a plurality of adjacent semi-tones over a predetermined number of octaves, as well as envelope controlling meas for percussion and various other effects. It will be obvious that an indefinite number of such units may be employed to produce portarnento or tremolo or vibrato effects, and to vary either the attack or the decay, as well as to secure a multiplicity of different tone qualities. It will also be obvious that each of the separate components, including the pedal clavier 22, the accompaniment clavier 5% the solo clavier 52, the modifiers 54, 56 tnd 57, as well as each chassis throughout the entire tone generator, may have individual defects or develop individual defects. Many of these defects can be easily detected in such a way as to identify the offending unit, but a substantial number of them cannot, and those that cannot pose a very difficult problem, even to a skilled maintenance operator. According to the invention each of the separate major components of the entire equipment, of which FIGURE 1 happens to indicate only 30, can be completely isolated from all the others for a separate test of that particular unit, or for a test of the entire equipment with that particular unit omitted, whichever procedure is most effective to trace down the malfunctioning that may be encountered.

From the upper bank of tone generator chasses 26, individual multiple cables 58, one for each chassis, extend forwardly and downwardly, and their terminal plugs 48 are connected to multiple-terminal female sockets 64 in the particular equipment illustrated, each plug 48 will customarily carry seven contact elements, one for each oscillator and one for a ground connection, but it will be obvious that the number depends on the nature of the equipment. From each of the multiple female plugs 60, a plurality of individual conductors indicated at 62 in FIGURES l and 3 are carried over and through a slot 63 in a guide plate 64 mounted on the supporting channel 66, to unite in a transfer cable 68. If the upper bank of oscillators includes 72 notes the cable 68 will usually contain 504 conductors.

Similarly, all the oscillators of the lower tier 27 are connected by similar cables 70 to duplicate female connector plugs so, and the individual conductors from the plugs are united in a cable 72 carried by the channel '73 of a second intermediate junction unit.

The cables 68 and 72 may be festooned as may be convenient within the space inside the housing and run up to multiple interchangeable terminal units such as those illustrated in FlGURES 4 and 5.

Since the claviers and modifying instrumentalities 54, 56 and 57 are not sub-divided into smaller groups of electronic elements, the conductors from each of these units are united in a single cable, festooned in the same space, and carried directly up to multiple connector terminals without interposing the sub-divisions obtainable by means of the intermediate junction equipment at 66 and '74. Thus from the unit 24, comprising the key switches for the pedal clavier, the cable 74 is festooned up. From the accompaniment clavier 50, the cable 76 is festooned down through a convenient opening '78 in the floor 16. From the solo clavier 52 the cable 80 is festooned down. From units 56 and 57 a single cable 82 is carried across the floor 16 to the hole 78 and festooned down, and from the other modifying unit 54 a cable 84 is carried across the floor and festooned down.

Thus, in the particular equipment illustrated, there are seven multiple cables, each comprising anywhere from 50 to 500 individual conductors, and each individual conductor is part of the wiring for just one note of a particular pitch and has its own specific function to perform in producing or varying the quality of that particular note.

For convenient accessibility, the accompaniment clavier 50 and its key switch assembly 86 are mounted on a unitary support 88 pivoted at 90 so that it can be swung up into a vertical position. Similarly the solo clavier 52 and its key switch assembly 92 are on a similar support 94 pivoted higher up and farther back at 96. Cables 7 a: and 78 are made with extra length to permit this movement without complications, but the extra length is preferably festooned in a horizontal plane as indicated in FIGURE 1 at 98, so that the portion of the cable passing through the hole 78 does not slide up and down in the hole when the claviers are elevated.

All seven of the connection terminals may be laid against the walls of the instrument or allowed to float in the open space below the floor 16, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. In either instance their interchangeable overlapped relationship facilities the separation and assembly of them by an operator or repair man. However, the intermediate junction units 66 and 73 are fixedly supported in any suitable way as by means of ears 100 (see FIGURE 3) apertured to rest on lugs or shelves at the ends of the space in which these supports are located.

This makes it easy for a repairman to slip one hand under these supports and pull out any one or more selected plugs 48 so as to disconnect each individual chassis for electrical testing of the circuits of the chassis or of the assembly with the chassis disconnected, or for removal and replacement of a chassis. He can also offset any two adjacent panels 102 longitudinally with respect to each other and thus alter the selection of the components that constitute each of the separate electrical functional units which are thus assembled into their operative relationships.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5, each connection terminal unit comprises a panel 102 of insulating plastic material carrying a multiplicity of conducting surface strips, of the printed circuit type, indicated at 104. Along its lower edge it carries a metallic terminal comprising spaced coupling jaws 106 and 1108 opening downwardly and adapted to grip and receive the upper edge of another connection terminal unit in registering position.

The coupling jaw 106 is turned horizontally at 110 back across the under edge of the panel 102 and then up at 112 to embrace the edge of the panel. Near the upper end of the jaw 106, a lug 114 extends rearwardly through an opening in the panel and is then turned over side-ways, or clinched, as at 116. This mounts the entire terminal rigidly on the panel with the jaw 106 clamped against the conducting strip 104. The outer coupling jaw 108 has an inclined lower end at 118 to facilitate the insertion of the wedged shaped upper edge 120 of another panel 102, with its conducting strips 104 firmly engaged in electrical contact with the jaw 103.

The jaws 106 and project downwardly from a body member 121. From the body member a terminal, or binding post 122 projects horizontally forward.

In the space between the upper edge portion adapted to engage the terminals of a terminal unit above, and the binding posts 122, each panel carries a cable support in the form of an upwardly opening channel 124 of insulating material. The cable 126 lies in the channel and will be of varying diameter, being largest at the end where the cable leaves the terminal unit. Each individual conductor, at the predetermined position for that conductor, is led out of the main cable and up as at 120. It is then wound one-half turn around a peg 130 on the side of the channel next the panel, and drawn back over the cable as at 130.

It is then laid in a slot 132 in the outer face of the cable support. This fastens each individual conductor firmly in place and the individual conductors, where they overlie the cable 126, hold the cable 126 in place in its support. To complete the electrical connection, the individual conductor is led down through the slot 132 and beyond in a short reach 134 to engage a small notch at 136 in the binding post 122 below the support. It is then wound one or more times around the binding post 122, spiraling outwardly to make at least a half turn at 1138 around a notched-in portion at 140. It will be obvious that this positions the portions 138 and 140 wellaway from the plane occupied by the rest of the electrical connections, so that the entire connection terminal unit, after it has been assembled with its cable, and all the individual conductors in the cable have been wound up on their binding posts, may be presented with the binding posts pointing substantially vertically downward to immerse the parts 138 and 140 only in a single bath of solder and thus solder as many joints as there are in the entire connection terminal unit at a single dipping. When the individual conductors are led directly down as indicated in FIGURE 5 nothing else is needed, but in special arrangements where the reach 134 does not extend as indicated, it is a simple matter to use a heated tool and peen over the sides of the slot 132 near the bottom of the slot as indicated at 142 in FIGURE 5. Cable 126 is the result of the accumulation of the individual conductors during the assembly process.

The threading tool and method disclosed in my copending application Serial Number 698,734 filed Nov. 25, 1957, now Patent 3,027,418, issued March 27, 1962, afe suitable for putting the individual conductors in p ace.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditions of service by employing one or more of the novel features disclosed or equivalents thereof, in connection with electronic musical instruments or otherwise. As at present advised, with respect to the apparent scope of my invention, I desire to claim the following subject matter:

1. In an electronic organ, in combination: a plurality of more than two electronic unitary assemblies, each comprising a multiplicity of individual electronic subassemblies; a cable associated with each of said combined assemblies; each cable including a multiplicity of structurally united and electrically separate individual conductors leading to predetermined sub-assemblies of the associated combined assembly; each cable extending away from its associated combined assembly; a connection terminal unit at the end of each cable electrically remote from the associated combined assembly; each connection terminal having a multiplicity of electrical contact terminal members; each terminal contact member being electrically connected to a predetermined one of said individual conductors; certain of the sub-assemblies in certain of said combined assemblies being adapted to originate and deliver signals of predetermined frequencies corresponding to the notes of the musical scale; the differ ent sub-assemblies for each frequency being all connected to contact terminal members in their associated connection terminal units located in corresponding predetermined positions on said connection terminal units; and means for detachably juxtaposing any connection terminal unit to any other connection terminal unit, with their corresponding terminal contact members in homologous positions and all the terminal contact members for each sub-assembly in electrical contact with each other; whereby a multiplicity of independent sets of sub-assemblies may be electrically interconnected simultaneously by the juxtaposition of their connection terminal units; said combined assembly units including a combined tone generator unit having a multiplicity of electrically independent oscillators; a combined key switch assembly unit having a multiplicity of player-controlled key switches, each operative, when the associated connection terminal units have been juxtaposed, to control the delivery or nondelivery of signal from its associated oscillator; and a combined percussion unit for varying the decay of the signal from certain of said oscillators.

2. In an electronic organ, in combination: a plurality of more than two electronic unitary assemblies, each comprising a multiplicity of individual electronic subassemblies; a cable associated with each of said combined assemblies; each cable including a multiplicity of structurally united and electrically separate individual conductors leading to predetermined sub-assemblies of the associated combined assembly; each cable extending away from its associated combined assembly; a connection terminal unit at the end of each cable electrically remote from the associated combined assembly; each connection terminal having a multiplicity of electrical contact terminal members; each terminal contact member being electrically connected to a predetermined one of said individual conductors; certain of the subassemblies being adapted to originate and deliver signals of predetermined freq encies corresponding to the notes of the musical scale; the dilferent sub-assemblies for each frequency being all connected to contact terminal members in their associated connection terminal units located in corresponding predetermined positions on said connection terminal units; and means for detachably juxtaposing any connection terminal unit to any other connection terminal unit with their corresponding terminal contact members in homologous positions.

3. In an electronic organ, in combination: a plurality of more than two electronic unitary assemblies, each comprising a multiplicity of individual electronic sub-assemblies; a cable associated with each of said major assemblies; each cable united and electrically separate individual conductors leading to predetermined sub-assemblies of the associated combined assembly; each cable extending away from its associated combined assembly; a connection terminal unit at the end of each cable electrically remote from the associated combined assembly; each connection terminal having a multiplicity of electrical contact terminal members; each terminal contact member being electrically connected to a predetermined one of said individual conductors; certain of the sub-assemblies in certain of said combined assemblies being adapted to originate and deliver signals of predetermined frequencies corresponding to the notes of the musical scale; the difierent sub-assemblies of each frequency being all connected to contact terminal members in their associated connection terminal units located in corresponding predetermined positions on said connections terminal units; and means for detachably juxtaposing any connection terminal unit to any other connection terminal unit with their corresponding terminal contact members in homologous positions and in electrically conductive engagement; whereby any desired selected plurality of independent sets of sub-assemblies may be electrically interconnected simultaneously by the juxtaposition of their connection terminal units; one combined including a multiplicity of structurally assembly unit being a tone generator comprising a multiplicity of oscillators; one other combined assembly unit comprising a multiplicity of player-controlled key switches, each operative, when the associated connection terminals units have been juxtaposed, to control the delivery or non-delivery of signal from its associated oscillator.

4. A combination according to claim 3 in which a unitary housing is provided, enclosing the assembled connection terminal units, and certain of said assemblies.

5. A combination according to claim 4 in which said housing has a top wall constituting a floor for certain assemblies above and outside said housing; said floor having an aperture adapted to permit a complete connection terminal unit to be inserted from above into said housing.

6. A combination according to claim 3 in which said combined tone generator assembly is sub-divided into a plurality of chasses; each chassis comprising a plurality of individual oscillators; the main cable for said tone generator having, adjacent the associated connection terminal unit, a single unitary reach including all the conductors for a plurality of chasses; said cable being subdivided intermediate its length into a many sub-divided chassis cables as there are chasses associated with said main cable.

7. A combination according to claim 6 in which an intermediate sub-dividing junction is electrically interposed between said main cable and said chassis cables; each chassis cable being detachably plugged in to said sub-dividing junction, to permit removal and replacement of any chassis without disturbing said main cable or any other chassis cable.

8. A combination according to claim 7 in which said sub-dividing junction is stationary and mechanically supported in a fixed position to facilitate connecting and disconnecting each individual chassis cable therefrom.

9. The novel combination of three or more unitary supports; each support having one dimension identified as length and a second dimension identified as Width, and a third dimension identified as thickness; each support having multiplicity of narrow electrically conductive areas on one face, extending across away from one first lengthwise edge; a multiplicity of female electrical connectors fastened near a different second lengthwise edge of each support; each female connector being in electrical contact with one of said conductive areas and shaped to receive the first lengthwise edge of another second similar support, in electrical contact with a corresponding conductive area on said second support; and a terminal mechanically afiixed to a portion of each conductive area intermediate the ends thereof; said terminal extending out laterally from said support, and being electrically connected to their conductive areas; the laterally extending portions of each terminal being accessible for electrical connection to another conductor.

It). The novel combination of three or more unitary supports; each support having one dimension identified as length and a second dimension identified as width, and a third dimension identified as thickness; each support having multiplicity of narrow electrically conductive areas on one face, extending across away from one first lengthwise edge; a multiplicity of female electrical connectors fastened near a diiferent second lengthwise edge of each support; each female connector being in electrical contact with one of said conductive areas and shaped to receive the first lengthwise edge of another second similar support, in electrical contact with a corresponding conductive area on said second support; the lengthwise spacing of said areas and female connectors being such that each support may be juxtaposed with any other support in any one of a plurality of relationships olfset lengthwise with respect to each other; and a terminal mechanically afiixed to a portion of each conductive area intermediate the ends thereof; said terminals extending out laterally from said support, and being electrically connected to their conductive areas; the laterally etxending portions of each terminal being accessible for electrical connection to another conductor.

11. A combination according to claim 9 in which said female connectors are remote from said first edge and leave an exposed lengthwise strip between said first lengthwise edge and said female connectors; a troughlike support extending lengthwise along said exposed face and affixed thereto; a multiplicity of insulated conductors lying in said trough; and a multiplicity of terminals each in conductive association with one of said transverse areas; each conductor having one end portion electrically united to a preselected terminal and extending from said terminal into said trough and then lengthwise along said trough; all said conductors extending beyond an end of said trough and being united beyond said end in a unitary cable; said terminals projecting away from their support, and said conductor ends being united to said terminals at the remote ends of said terminals; whereby said ends are accessible for dip soldering with their support spaced above them.

12. An electric musical instrument comprising, in combination: a plurality of unit assemblies; each unit assembly including a multiplicity of electrical components,

constituting homologous elements in a corresponding number of combinations, each of which combinations is adapted to produce one individual note; electrical conductors, each connected at one end to one of said components; the conductors for the components of each unit assembly being fastened together into a cable leading away from said unit assembly; the remote ends of a plurality of said cables extending into juxaposition at a common panel; said panel comprising a plurality of insulating terminal supports, one for each cable; each support having two parallel edges spaced from each other; each support having individual transversely arranged terminals; each transversely arranged terminal having an end portion of male configuration at one end and an end portion of female configuration at the other end; said male and female end portions being adapted to engage each other in detachable fitting engagement; the homologous individual terminals on each support being longitudinally spaced along said support in corresponding spacing and sequence; all said insulating terminal supports being juxaposed, with the male end of one individual terminal in mechanical and electrical contact with the homologous female end of an adjacent terminal; said assembled insulating supports uniting all the homologous terminals for the production of each note into a single continuous electric conductor, regardless of the sequence arrangement of said assembled supports.

13. A combination according to claim 12 in which each individual terminal has a union portion intermediate its ends; said union portion extending away from said support and being accessible for permanent electrical union with its homologous individual conductors, as by solder- 14. A combination according to claim 13 in which each insulating support has attachment means adjacent the union portion of each transverse terminal; said individual conductors being affixed to said attachment means in a t3 position spaced from said union portion, thereby leaving all said union portions accessible for simultaneous dip soldering.

15. A combination according to claim 12 in which all said insulating terminal supports are positioned with their associated transverse terminals externally exposed and accessible to mechanical or electrical contact.

16. A combination according to claim 12 in combination with a console having a housing; said panel being located inside said housing; said cable extending from said panel away to their respective unit assemblies; all said insulating terminal supports being arranged with their transversely arranged terminals facing in the same direc tion.

17. The novel combination of three or more unitary supports for electrical conductors; each support having a multiplicity of supported electrical conductors extending across from one edge to a different edge of said support; each supported conductor having a male terminal portion at one edge and a female terminal portion at the other edge; each supported conductor having a lateral branch terminal portion intermediate its ends adapted for connection electrically with another, lateral conductor; a multiplicity of lateral conductors connected to said lateral branch terminal portions; said lateral conductors being physically held together in a unitary cable; and an assembly at the remote end of said cable; each assembly including a multiplicity of different individual electrical instrumentalities; whereby all said assemblies can be electrically connected and disconnected, by juxtaposition of their male and female terminal portions; with homologous electrical elements in all said assemblies connected into a functional unit separate from other functional units similarly connected.

- 18. Equipment according to claim 17 in which the terminal portions of said supported conductors are positioned in a spaced longitudinal row with identical spacing for all said supports.

. 19. Equipment according to claim 18 in which the spacing of said supports is adapted to permit juxtaposition of different supports in diiferent longitudinally offset relationships; whereby any support may be shifted longitudinally with respect to any other support to alter the selection of the electrical elements in the resulting separate functional units.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ARTHUR GAUSS,

CARL W. ROBINSON, Examiner.

Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN ELECTRONIC ORGAN, IN COMBINATION: A PLURALITY OF MORE THAN TWO ELECTRONIC UNITARY ASSEMBLIES, EACH COMPRISING A MULTIPLICITY OF INDIVIDUAL ELECTRONIC SUBASSEMBLIES; A CABLE ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID COMBINED ASSEMBLIES; EACH CABLE INCLUDING A MULTIPLICITY OF STRUCTURALLY UNITED AND ELECTRICALLY SEPARATE INDIVIDUAL CONDUCTORS LEADING TO PREDETERMINE SUB-ASSEMBLIED OF THE ASSOCIATED COMBINED ASSEMBLY 